John k



@ai-teh'tstrs @anni @ffice Letters .Patent No. 78,282, lated ll/[ag/ 26,1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARNESS.

tlyt Srlntnlt referti-t it in tlgrsc trlters tica mit noting ont nf tige time.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JOHN K. HARRIS, of Springfield, inthe county of Clark, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Breast and other Collars for Horse-Harness; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof',` reference being had'to'the accompanying draw- `ings, makingpart of this specification.

My invention consists principally in a ncw Inode Ofcon'structing ordinary breast-collars or hamcs-tugs, so as to obtain a limitedjclastic draught from the same without destroying the flexibility of any ofthe parts; also in the arrangement of a strong stop or checlg to the elastic movement, whenever the elastic device is brought to a certain amount of tension, so as to prevent brcalragc'or injury to the same by overstrain or..exccssive pressure. In the accompanyingdrawings- Figure 1 shows one end of my flexible elastic-breastcollar in connection with other parts of the harness.

Figures grand 3 showthe construction and arrangement of the interior parts, with the'outer covering removed.

Figure 4: shows the internal parts in position, with the covering removed.

, Figure 5 shows the same elastic arrangement applied to a-nordinary haines-tug.

Fig. 2 represents a strong ilexible lea-ther frame,composed of a piccevof thick leather, A, having the upper and lower parts, a a', doubled' and loopedL around the check-bar C, the spacca, between-these parts, being open to' receive the springs and iexible draughtlstrap, to be presently explained.

The spring-resisting cross-bar Dfg. 3, is iirmly secured, at each end, to the upper and lower parts, a a', `of thedexible frame, by a tenon rand rivet, at a suitable distance from the check-bar C, to allow the desired.

eiastic movement of the draught-strap. Y

Fig. 3 represents my improved flexible draught-strap, having any desired number of strong, flexible thong or cords, X, extending from one end of the same, and passing through openings in the bar D, thence through the coil-springs M, tig. 4, each thong tcrminating'in an-enlarged head, x. These thongs may be made ot" raw hide, or any strong, ilexible material. The main body ot' this flexible draught-strap B iscomposed'ot` two straps of leather, stitched iirmly together, with a small plug or piece of leather, b t', between the same, in front and rear of the cross-bar C, leavinga` spa-cei between said plugs Z) b suiiicient for the play or elastic movement of draught-strap B. The :dexible frame A, iig. `2,.heing' secured to the breast-collar, and the draught-strap and springs being in proper position, as shown by tig. 4, the whole is'en'closed by the usual folds Or covering, as shown in tig. 1, presenting aneat and iinishedappearance, combining flexibility with elasticity. Whenever suiiipient power is applied to draw out the draught-strap B, until the inner fastening, o, abuts against the check4 bar C, the springs and thongs are at once relieved from any further strain, which is found to be absolutely necessary to insure their durability.

To this elastic strap, cxtending alike from each end ot' the breast-collar, I attach, by buckle, II, iig. 1, another strap, I, which extends directly back tothe breeching, and is looped in a ring of the same, having an ordinary slidebuckle, for adjustment to different lengths. To this side strap', in line withthe Ordinary saddle pad, I attach 'another short crossstrap, Khhaving a buckle, 7c, at the upper end, to connect with the ordinary v saddle or shaft-bearer strap 7c', and the lower end, 7c, is used for the girth or bellyband fillet.

At or near the intersection of these last-named straps, I secure a metallic plate, O, provided with a slot, 0, to receive a staple, T, which is attached to' the inside of shaft S, 'which staple is held, in connection with plate O, by the end of the shaft-bearer strap, k, passing vertically through both staple and plate, or by the usc of any other convenient leather or metallic key.

Thus it is plainthat with my improved harness thehorse may be conveniently and 'quickly attached to or l detached from the vehicle, and that theordinary traces, single-tree, shaft-tags, or thimbles, are dispensed with,

thus simplifying and reducing the cost of harness.

The elastic'breastcollar is found,by practical use, to adjust itselfperfectly to the right and left alternating motion ofthe horses shoulders,'and being pliable as well as extensible and elastic, having all the metallic parts entirely covered and ahieldedl fromcontact with the horse, prevents ehaing or galling.'-

The springs are'also found to be much more durable and reliable than they have been in the various forms heretofore used,`having a. leather surface, both outside and inside, to wear against, instead ofa metallic surfacer and also having a i'eliablecheck to over-tension.. h

`It is' evident, from iig. 5, that thesame flexible, elastic arrangementl herein shown and described, and embraced in 'the construction of a breast-collar, may be applied and used'inahames-tug, or a harness with llames, as well. I

' I am aware that an elastic feature in a trace-dispensing harness, is not nem-being` embraced in a patent granted to H. C. Smith, July 10, 1866, and now wholly assigned to me; also in patentsV heretofore granted to myself; but in all these the elastic device is combined with and obtained'from the parts which attach to the shafts, called a huckle, bitchingdevice,"draught-plate, lSte., necessarily making ,these parts too large. rigid, and heavy for light ha1'ness;besides, being exposed 'between the shaft and horse, they are liahleto injure him by constant rubbing and chaing; and as there has usuallybeen'no provision'of a cheek to the springs, as a safeguard against sudden strains or over-tension, they are liable to break, or to hecomepermanently closed.

I do not, therefore, claim'asnew any elastic-device, when the same is embraced in .or derived from any of the metallic parts which are to be attached to the shafts.` Neither doI claim .any bitching-device consisting of a link, draught-plate, tubular frame, or any other device to be attached to the shafts, when the elastic draught is obtained directly from` the same; but

What I do claim .as-new, and 'desire` to -:secure by Letters Patent, isl 1. The provision, in abreast-collar or hannes-strap, of the exible, extensible, and elastic device X x M, the same being providedwith check-pieces bb', C D, substantially as and foi' the purposes herein explained. 2. The arrangement of draught-strap B,open leather frame or breast-strap A, thongs X, spiralsprings M and check-pieces b b', C D, as and for the purpose specified. y

In testimony of' which invention,l I hereunto set my hand. .Y l 'l JOHN K. HARRIS.

\y\litn'csses:

Gao. H. KNIGHT, JAMES H. LAYMAN.' 

